Friday recap from Yonkers includes Hopefuls

March 07, 2009

Pancleefandarpels and Beach Nut Brand took the plaudits Friday night at Yonkers Raceway, winning a pair of $31,000 Open Handicaps.

Pancleefandarpels (Jordan Stratton), last week's champ and this week's eight-hole assignee, was prudently patient early. Nip N Attack (Cat Manzi)--the 2-1 choice--and Leanback Coco (Jim Pantaleano) mixed it up through early intervals of :28 and 57.3.

Symphony in Motion (Brent Holland) began tbe outer tier, with "Pancleef" second-up. The early speed of Nip N Attack gave way before the 1:26 three-quarters, with Symphony in Motion taking over. That one owned a brief lead into the lane, but Pancleefandarpels was on the prowl, swooping in and widening to the wire.

Pancleefandarpels won by 1 3/4 lengths in a season's-best 1:54.2, with Symphony in Motion, Twin B Tiara (Greg Grismore), J K Pure Pearl (Jason Bartlett) and Leanback Coco completing the cashers.

For Pancleefandarpels, a 5-year-old daughter of Noble Ability trained by Erv Miller for Peter Pan Stables, she paid $20.20 (fifth choice) for her third win in seven '09 efforts. The victress led a $161.50 exacta and $1,550 triple.

Manzi had an intriguing decision to make before the weekly featured trot, which included his usual escort (American Lane) and the returning Green Day, whom he chauffeured to victory in the 2007 Yonkers Trot.

Manzi elected to stay with the ultra-consistent American Lane. That one, from his customary starting venuie behind the eight-ball, went right to the lead around longshot Stunt Man Hall (Bartlett). American Lane, the 9-5 second choice, set seemingly-tepid fractions, with a 29-second quarter-mile and 59.1 intermission. Beach Nut Brand (Jeff Gregory), the 3-2 favorite who had dropped in fourth, took up the chase first-up. Green Day (Tim Curtin, in his Yonkers' driving debut) tried to match strides from second-over.

Beach Nut Brand grabbed a breather when Stunt Man Hall gapped the pocket before the 1:27.4 three-quarters as American Lane maintained a length-and-a-quarter advantage turning for home.

However, Beach Nut Brand--freshened up by his pit stop--eased out for the drive. He strolled by American Lane, winning by two lengths in 1:56.4. Green Day was a best-of-the-rest third, with Stunt Man Hall and Rushmore Hanover (Holland) grabbing the small change.

For Beach Nut Brand, a 7-year-old Branded gelding trained by Mark Harder for co-owners Stable 45 & Scott Kurzrok. he retuend $5.10 for his second win in eight seasonal starts. The exacta paid $19, with the triple returning $50.

Friday's card also included four, $10,000 divisions in the third and final preliminary round of the Hopeful Pacing Series for 3-year-old fillies.The winners were:

--Gordyyy's Pet (by Four Starzzz Shark); (lessee) The Cheyenne Gang/trainer Robbie Siegelman/driver Manzi; (first life win) 2:00/$2.80

--McGibson (by McArdle); co-owners Bay's Stb,Camelot Stb,Jacobowitz/trainer Linda Toscano/driver Bartlett; 1:58.3/$4.90;

--Dream's Bar (by Dream Away); owner-trainer Leah Vandervort/driver Bill Vandervort Jr.; (life-best) 1:58.4/$4.50;

--Riches to Rags (by Richess Hanover); co-owner Jim Meade & George Bonomo/trainer Mark Ford/driver Ryan Anderson; 1:57.3/$12.20.

Nezt weekend's finals of the Hopeful Series are worth $47,700 (Friday-fillies) and $49,400 (Saturday-colts and geldings). (Yonkers Raceway)

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